Return to Syllabus

BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1970

JUSTIFICATION

1. THE MEANING OF THE WORD
   There is a relationship between righteousness and justification. The root of the word righteousness is the root of the word justification.
   1. Old Testament words
      1. Tsaddiq - "to declare righteous, " but not "to make righteous" (Dt. 25:1; Ex. 23:7; Isa. 5:23)
      2. Tsedeq - "righteous, just" (Job. 8:6)
      3. Tsadaq - "to be right, just" (Dan. 12:3)
   2. New Testament words
      1. Dikaios - "just" (Mt. 1:19; Lk. 15:7; 1 Jn. 1:9; Jn. 5:30; Rom. 7:12; Phil. 4:8; Col. 4:1)
      2. Dikaioo - "to declare one just or justified"
         Mt. 11:19 - used of wisdom
         Lk. 7:29 - used of the acts of man
         Rom. 3:20 - used negatively of the law
         Lk. 18:14 - used of the act of God in accounting righteous
         Acts 13:39 - used of a believer in Christ
   3. Explanatory remarks
      1. Justification is a forensic term, i.e., one associated with the courts of justice. It has nothing to do with how the man who has been vindicated was made righteous. It concerns itself with the legal pronouncement, of the judge that the person involved is thereby declared righteous.
      2. The meaning of the original words in both the Greek and the Hebrew suggests the thought of "declaring righteous" in a legal sense, rather than meaning to make one righteous or just. Justification is a term that deals with our standing or relationship, rather than our state or conduct.
      3. Of ourselves, we are sinful. Therefore, before God can pronounce us righteous:
         1. The sin problem must be taken care of.
         2. There must be the gift of Christ's righteousness to us.
            1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ is made unto us righteousness. In the sight of God, we are righteous. To declare righteous is more than to pardon, and actually it is more than to acquit.
             
2. THE MEANS OF JUSTIFICATION
   1. Negatively
      Not by the works of the law (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16).
      The law was given to convict men of sin and to lead them to Christ (Gal. 3:10; Rom, 3:19-20,23; cp. Isa. 53:7).
   2. Positively
      1. The origin - His grace (Rom. 3:24), freely, without a cause. It is not on the ground of any desert in us. It is a gift God bestows without pay.
      2. The ground of justification.
         We are declared righteous on the basis of Christ's shed blood (Rom. 5:9; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:6; 2 Cor. 5:21).
      3. The condition of justification.
         1. Faith is the instrument by which justification is made mine (Gal. 2:16; Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:26; 4:5; 5:1). We are justified when we believe in Him who shed His blood. b. We are justified in Christ because of our union with Him (1 Cor. 6:11).
         2. Faith is the acceptance of God's method of justification. Faith appropriates what grace provides.
             
3. THE EXTENT OF JUSTIFICATION
   1. Every one that believeth is justified from all things (Acts 13:39). The whole record is wiped out -- all things.
   2. The believer is made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9; Rom. 3:21-22).
      There is an exchange of position between Christ and the believer. Christ took our place, the place of the curse (Gal. 3:3); He was made sin (2 Cor. 5:21; cp. Isa. 53:6).
      
      When we are justified, we step into His place, the place of acceptance (Eph. 1:6, "accepted in the beloved and by the beloved"). The freed criminal has the problem of being accepted by society.
      
      To be justified is more than to be forgiven. Forgiveness is negative, the putting away of sin. Justification is positive, the reckoning of positive righteousness.
      
      A king can pardon a man, but he can't make him righteous. But the King of Kings not only pardons us, but declares us righteous. Thus, the believer can hold up his head and say, "By the grace of God, I am righteous. " "I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10).
      
      Jesus Christ is so united to the believer that God reckons our sins to Him. The believer is so near to Christ that God reckons His righteousness to us. When Christ's work is completed in us, we will be in actual fact what we are in God's reckoning (1 Jn. 3:2).
       
4. THE TIME OF JUSTIFICATION
   Acts 13:39 - the moment we believe, God reckons His righteousness to us.
    
5. THE RESULTS OF JUSTIFICATION
   1. Freedom from incrimination (Rom. 8:1, 33-35). No one can lay anything to the charge of God's elect.
      
      Dr. Moule: "Who will lodge a charge against God's chosen ones? Will God who justifies them? Who will condemn them, if the charge is lodged? Will Christ, who died, nay, who rose, who is on the right hand of God, who is actually interceding for them?"
       
   2. Peace with God (Rom. 5:1).
      The enmity between the sinner and God is put away by the cross (Eph. 2:14-17; Coi. 1:20, 22). "Peace with God" has to do with our standing. "The peace of God" (Phil. 4:7) concerns our state.
       
   3. We are made heirs and are assured of future glorification (Tit. 3:7; Rom. 8:30, also v. 17).
   4. We shall be saved from the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9; Jn. 5:24; 1 Cor. 3:13-15.
       
6. FOUR USES OF THE WORD JUSTIFY
   1. We are justified meritoriously by the blood of Christ. The merit which is necessary for justification is found in the sacrifice of Christ (Rom. 5:9; 4:25).
   2. We are justified judicially by God the Father declaring us righteous (Rom. 8:33). The highest court of appeal.
   3. We are justified instrumentally by faith (Rom. 5:1).
   4. We are justified evidentially by works (Jas. 2:14-18, 23-24),
      Abraham was justified before God by faith and before men by his works Gas. 2:21).
      
      "The working man is not the justified man, but the justified man is the working man," Evans
      
      The tree shows its life by its fruits, but it was alive before either the fruit or the leaves appeared.
      
      The first three are the Godward aspect; the fourth is the manward aspect.
       
7. JUSTIFICATION IS THE ACT OF GOD WHEREBY HE DECLARES RIGHTEOUS ONE WHO BELIEVES ON JESUS CHRIST.

Return to Syllabus

"Mason's Notes"

(formerly Philadelphia Biblical University, Philadelphia College of Bible.) Copyright © 2012 to present, All rights reserved. Cairn University 200 Manor Avenue Langhorne, PA 19047 United States of America

"Mason's Notes" Study materials on this website are made available here free, through the generosity of Cairn University, and may be copied for use in Bible study groups, in limited numbers, providing that no charge is made for them.  No further distribution or use of these materials is allowable under U.S. or International Copyright Law without the express permission of Cairn University.

20160408